Shopping online can bring more than a holiday gift to a shopper's front door. Ventura County authorities say package thefts have been on the rise.

"It's a trend we've seen an increase in," said Sgt. Travis Coffey, of the Simi Valley Police Department.

While thousands of shoppers will make the traditional treks to malls and shopping centers this holiday season, thousands of others will spend their time online, having their purchases shipped to their front door.

Cyber Monday, the online equivalent of Black Friday, has become a huge business day, with customers spending more than $3 billion on Cyber Monday 2016, according to Adobe, which measures online activity and transactions from the top 100 U.S. retailers.

Coffey noted that package theft is not limited to the holiday season as more and more people do their shopping online throughout the year.

The Ventura Police Department, for example, reported that between July and November 2016, 40 packages had been stolen in residential areas.

However, Coffey did state that thefts could pick up in earnest after customers start receiving packages they ordered during the holiday sales.

"Police departments all over the country see an increase in the number of packages stolen from doorsteps during the holiday season," said Ashley Bautista, civic engagement specialist for Ventura Police Department. Bautista noted that the thefts are most often crimes of opportunity, although some strategy may be involved.

"Some thieves will follow delivery trucks around, just waiting for a package to get dropped off. Once the delivery is made, they swoop in a few minutes later and swipe it," Bautista said.

Both Bautista and Coffey offered tips to keep packages safe.

"It’s important for residents to know that there are ways to protect their property from those people that are looking to crush holiday cheer," Bautista said.

Coffey proposed that shoppers sign up for text alerts to receive notifications when packages are delivered. If a person is not home for delivery, ask that the package be left with a trusted neighbor.

Bautista advised requiring signatures for deliveries or having packages sent to a workplace, if allowed.

Bautista and Coffey agreed that citizens are an important part of keeping the community and their packages safe.

"Give us a call," Coffey said. "The people who live here are our eyes and ears."

Package safety tips

Require a signature for all deliveries.

Leave specific instructions for delivery. Request that packages be left out of sight from the street.

Have a package delivered to your workplace, if allowed.

Set up delivery alerts.

Pay for package insurance, which can protect against theft as well as lost or damaged packages.